CANTON’S CELEBRITY CHEF
TODD HOGAN of BRANCHWATER
A
new face on the food scene in Downtown Canton’s historic district is already familiar to many as a celebrity chef on the Food Network.
These days, Todd Hogan, the head chef and restaurateur of Branchwater, is delighted to serve up a refined dining experience and enticing dishes at his steak and seafood restaurant in the heart of downtown. The Atlanta native, who put down roots in Canton with his family more than fourteen years ago, always dreamed of pursuing a restaurant in the downtown area and now that dream is a reality.
Todd is grateful for the opportunities and experiences he had as a young chef, but above all, he appreciates where it has led him. In Todd’s own words, “It’s more important to me to be recognized in a grocery store, at church, or at the school as the local restaurant go-to guy, than to be recognized from the Food Network.”
Chef Hogan’s mission for Branchwater is to serve the highest quality ingredients, create inventive dishes, and grow relationships within the community. The Canton restaurant features original wood and brick, highlighting the history of the building. Along the walls are photographs taken from the Cherokee County Historical Society intended to combine old and new. Todd’s goal was to take the existing architecture and historic qualities of the interior and complement it with the Branchwater brand, which includes another eatery in Cumming. While Todd is always looking forward to bigger ventures, he stresses the importance of never losing the personal characteristics he and his customers value. He says, “There’s something special about your local restaurant, where people know you by your name or know you by your cocktail.” Though the renowned chef has cooked for culinary icons like Julia Child, Jacques Pépin, and Pierre Franey, Todd says the most important people he’s ever cooked for are his own children. Above all else, Todd Hogan values his family, his community,